Replaceable upholstery for furniture



March 23, 1965 J, w. NEUFELD 3,174,797

REPLACEABLE UPHOLSTERY FOR FURNITURE Filed Sept. 30, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

7/5/72? ZZZ @aid March 23, 1965 J. w. NEUFELD REPLACEABLE UPHOLSTERY FOR FURNITURE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 30, 1963 INVENTOR. Jo/m ZZZ fl y/W0 3 174 797 REPLACEABLE UPHGLSTERY FOR FURNITURE John W. Neufeld, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, assignor to Massey-Ferguson Limited, Toronto, Ontario, Canada,

a corporation of Canada Filed Sept. 30, 1963, Ser. No. 312,441 19 Claims. (Cl. 297-218) This invention relates to seat covers and more particularly to a cover made of fabric or other suitable material which may be easily installed upon a seat member, such as a seat cushion or seat back, or removed from such seat member for cleaning or replacement.

The present invention particularly contemplates a seat cover adapted to be secured to a molded-shell type seat member, either a seat portion or a seat back such as used in public seating accommodations. Accordingly, in order to facilitate an understanding of the invention, reference will be hereinafter primarily to the use of such cover means in such environment. However, and as will become readily apparent hereinafter as the description proceeds, the cover means may be utilized in other types, shapes, and sizes of seat members and in public and other environments.

In many public and semi-public facilities, such as transportation terminals, hospitals, reception areas, or whereever else people may desire to stop or wait for a period of time, it is extremely desirable to provide some sort of means on which the people may sit and rest. It is common to provide unopholstered or unpadded benches or chairs in such areas, such furniture usually being extremely uncomfortable because of the lack of upholstery or padding. The comfort of upholstery or padding is seldom found in these installations because of the many problems involved in caring for and replacing the upholstery materials. It is readily apparent that with large numbers of people using such chairs or benches, upholstery or padding soon becomes worn and unsightly in appearance, and quickly soiled and dirty because of the nature of the use. Furthermore, in public terminals and the like the problem of vandalism and idle fingers is always prevalent. That is, oftentimes such furniture is deliberately or idly mistreated or removed. Thus, comfortable accommodations soon become run down and worn and the shabby appearance which results affects the entire environment in which it is used.

Heretofore, possible solutions to these problems have been in either eliminating upholstery and padding altogether to provide benches and furniture which are not easily harmed. Otherwise, when upholstery or padding is provided, overlying pieces of material are used to cover the padding which need to be replaced from time to time for cleaning or repair. Obviously, such solution is not entirely satisfactory either from the standpoint of appearance or from the standpoint of repair and maintenance.

In View of the foregoing considerations, the construction in which this invention is embodied comprises, generally, a cover which is easily attachable to a seat portion or the back portion of a chair or other piece of furniture, and which is so constructed as to cover the front surface of the member and to extend over its edge to overlie a peripheral segment of the back surface of such member. Attaching means are provided to securely hold the cover on the seat member in the desired fashion.

The invention is particularly characterized by the fact that a chair assembly of the general type aforementioned is provided that is pleasing in appearance and yet durable and economical in function.

The invention is further characterized by the fact that a cover is provided for a seat member which is easily and rapidly installed on the seat member and which may be removed for repair, maintenance, or cleaning.

arrays? Eaten-ted Mar. 23, I965 The invention is still further characterized by the fact that a cover is provided for a seat member which is positive in its securement to the seat member and which is diflicult to remove unless removal is authorized for cleaning, service, or repair.

The invention is also characterized by the fact that a seat cover is provided which is readily adaptable to any chair or other piece of furniture of the general type aforementioned.

These and other features and advantages of the invention Will appear more fully hereinafter as the description thereof proceeds, reference being made to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a chair illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the seat back and cover of FIGURE 1 and showing the cover and seat back separated;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the seat back and cover of FIGURE 1 and showing the cover installed;

FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the assembly of FIGURE 3, taken substantially along the line 44 of FIGURE 3 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 5 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the assembly of FIGURE 3, taken substantially along the line 55 of FIGURE 3 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 6 is a view, partly in section, taken substantially along the line 6-6 of FIGURE 5 and looking in the direction of the arrows; and

FIGURE 7 is a cross-sectional View of a portion of the assembly of FIGURE 3, taken substantially along the line 7--7 of FIGURE 3 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to FIGURE 1, a chair assembly is shown which is of a type which may be used either singly or in combination with a number of other such assemblies. The assembly includes a pair of seat members, the seat back illustrated generally by the numeral Iii against which the user rests his back, and the seating member illustrated generally by the numeral 12 upon which the user sits. A support 14 may be provided to join the seat members It] and 12 and a suitable base 16 having feet 18 is conveniently secured to the assembly. Rails 20 may be provided to join the base members 16 if more than one is used, or to join several seating assemblies as desired.

Referring now more specifically to the nature of the seat members Iii and 12, and with reference particularly to FIGURES 2 through 7 of the drawing, the structure of the seat back is more clearly shown. It is to be understood that the following description is applicable to the seating member 12 as well, but for ease of illustration and description, only the seat back 10 is more fully described.

Seat back 10 includes a rigid element or shell 22 which may be formed of any suitable material, such as plywood or plastic, molded into a convenient and desired shape. The shell 22 has a front surface 24 and a back surface 26, the two surfaces being joined by a peripheral edge 28. Adjacent the front surface 24 is a cushion material, illustrated generally by the numeral 30 which may be formed of any suitable material, such as molded latex foam or a fibrous substance. The padding 30 may be secured to the front surface 24 of the shell 22 in any suitable manner as by adhesives or the like. Alternatively, the padding 30 need not be attached to the shell 22 but may be held thereagainst by the cover, illustrated generally by the numeral 32. However, for ease of installation and replacement, it is preferred that the pad be secured in some manner to the shell 22.

Cover 32 may be formed of any desired material, such as vinyl, leather, fabric or the like, that is of suflicient strength and durability to accomplish the desired purpose. Cover 32 includes a front portion 34 which extends across and over the padding 30 and the shell 22 in a manner to become hereinafter more apparent. The size of the cover member 32 is slightly greater than the size of the shell 22 and is of substantially the same shape. A seam 36 is formed about the periphery of the front portion 34 in any convenient manner, but it is preferred that the seam be formed in a manner such as shown in FIGURES 4, 5, and 7. As shown in these figures, the periphery of the front portion 34 is turned, as at 38, and secured thereto is a fold of material 40 which forms a tubular seam around the periphery of the front portion 34. The fold 46) may be secured to the turned edge 38 in any suitable manner, as by sewing, adhesives or heating, depending upon the material used and the amount of strength desired.

Reference is now made to the manner in which the cover 32 is secured to the shell 22 over the cushion or padding material 30. Shell 22 is provided with an attaching plate 42 adjacent the upper periphery of the shell. Plate 42 is secured to the shell in any suitable manner, as by screws or bolts 44, and includes an outwardly extending flange 46 having a plurality of apertures 48 formed therein. Adjacent the ends of plate 42 are recesses 50 formed in the shell 22. The plate 42 is provided with notches 52 which partially close the recesses 50 but leave a portion of the recesses exposed to the exterior of the shell 22. Similarly, an attaching plate 54 is secured to the lower edge of the shell 22 in any suitable manner, as by screws 56. Near the ends of the plate 54 are recesses 58 formed in the shell 22 and which are partially closed by the notches 60 formed in the plate 54. Thus, the recesses 58 are partially exposed to the exterior of shell 22. Spaced between the plates 42 and 54 and adjacent the periphery of the shell 22 are side plates 62, only one of which is shown. Each side plate 62 is secured to the shell in any suitable manner as by screws 64 and is notched as at 66 to partially enclose a recess 68 formed in the shell 22. A similar construction is found on the opposite side of shell 22 but is not shown in the drawings because of the contour of the shell. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, two side plates are used, one at each side of the shell 22. However, it may be desirable to provide more than two or to change their location. Further, it may be found that such side plates are unnecessary in a particular installation.

Disposed within the seam 36 of the cover 32 and toward the top thereof, an attaching plate 70 is provided. Formed out of the surface of plate 70 or externally attached thereto, are a pair of hooks 72 which extend through suitable holes 74 formed in the seam 36. The hooks extend outwardly and away from the attaching plate 71) in the manner shown in the drawings. At an opposite point in the seam 36 of the cover 32 is a second attaching plate 76 which has hooks 78 extending outwardly therefrom in a similar manner. Hooks 78 extend through suitable holes 80 formed in the seam 36 of the cover 32. Also disposed within the seam 36 and on opposite sides thereof and between the attaching plates 70 and 76 are side plates 82, provided with hooks 84 extending through holes 86 formed in the seam for that purpose. The spacing of attaching plates 7%, 76, and the side plates 82 are such that the hooks 72, 78, and 84 will align with the recesses 50, 58, and 68 respectively formed in the shell 22 as aforementioned.

It will become hereinafter apparent that the function of the plates 42, 54 and 62 and the plates 70, 76 and 82 may be reversed. That is, the hooks 72, 78 and 84 could extend from the plates 52, 54 and 62 secured to the shell 22, rather than from the plates 76, 7 6 and 82 in the seam 36. Either is contemplated but the modification shown and described is the preferred embodiment of the Invention.

Also disposed within the seam 36 of the cover 32 are a pair of wire members, illustrated generally by the numeral 38. Wire members 38 are provided with bends or inturned legs 94? at their lower ends, as viewed in the drawings, and similar bends or legs 92 at their opposite ends. The bends 9% are adapted to engage the hooks 78 and thus extend through the holes 8% formed in the seam 36 to accommodate the hooks '78. Similarly, adjacent the attaching plate 70 and hooks 72, the wires 88 extend through the holes 74 formed in the seam 36. The method of attachment of the cover 32 to the shell or seat member 22 will now be described. The operator first places the cover 32 over the padding 30 in such a manner that the seam 32 extends over the periphery 28 of the shell 22. The operator then engages the hooks 72, '78, and 84 in the proper notches 52, 60, and 66 in the plates 42, 54, and 62, respectively, secured to the shell 22; The hooks thus serve as temporary retaining means and positioning means to hold the cover in the correct posi tion on the shell 22. The lower hook ends 90 of the wire members 83 are then properly engaged over the hooks 78 at the bottom attaching flange 76 in the cover 32 and one of the hooked upper ends 22 of the wire members 88 is placed in a suitable aperture 48 in the flange 46 extending from attaching plate 42. The operator then takes a tool, which may be of any suitable nature and is provided with a hooked shank 94, and hooks the shank about the leg 92 of the unattached wire member =88. The operator then pulls Wire member 88 as tightly as possible and permits the leg 92 to enter one of the apertures 48 in the flange 46. By so pulling the wire member 88, the operator decreases as much as possible the peripheral length of the seam 36 and tightly secures the cover 32. to the shell 22.- With the wire members '88 tightened and properly positioned, the various hooks become separated from the attaching plates but do not leave the recesses formed in the shell 22. Thus, upon disengagement of the wire members 88 from the flange 46, the cover will be re tained in place, the hooks again engaging the attaching plate members and the operator may easily unhook these attachments to complete the removal of the cover. I The foregoing description has been specifically directed to the seat back member 10 as viewed in FIGURE 1. It will now be obvious that the description is also appli-' cable to the construction of the seating member 12 and its cover 33. Furthermore, the foregoing description is related to only one embodiment of the invention, and it is readily apparent that the invention is easily adaptable to other forms of seat members either in shape, construction, or material. I Thus, a seat cover construction is provided which is easily installed on a seat member and which may be removed from the seat member for repair, replacement, or cleaning purposes. The resulting assembly is pleasing in appearance yet is positive in its securement of the cover to the seat member. It is difficult to remove the cover in an unauthorized manner, and such an assembly makes seating installations much more economical and eflicient.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows: 1. Cover means for a seat member having a front surface and a back surface and a peripheral edge. and com prising: a cover extending over the front surface of said seat member and overlying a peripheral portion of the back surface of said seat member, cover positioning means disposed in the edge of said cover and removably receivable in said seat member for positioning and temporarily retaining said cover on said seat member, a flange secured to the back surface of said seat member, and wire means disposed in the edge of said cover and extending therearound, said wire means being engageable with said positioning means in the edge of said cover and engageable with said flange extending from said seat member and adapted to maintain said edge of said cover at a smaller peripheral length than the peripheral length of said seat member for securing said cover thereon and relieving said temporary retention by said positioning means.

2. The cover means according to claim 1 wherein a tubular seam is formed around the edge of said cover overlying the back surface of said seat member, said seam containing said positioning means and said wire means.

3. The cover means according to claim 1 wherein said positioning means includes a plate member disposed in the edge of said cover and located substantially half-way around the edge of said cover from said flange on said seat member, said plate member having means formed thereon removably engageable with said seat member.

4. The cover means according to claim 1 wherein said positioning means includes a plate member disposed in the edge of said cover and located adjacent said flange on said seat member, said plate member having means formed thereon removably engageable with said seat member.

5. The cover means according to claim 1 wherein said positioning means includes a pair of plate members disposed in the edge of said cover and located at oppositely spaced points therearound, said plate members being removably engageable with said seat member.

6. The cover means according to claim 1 wherein said positioning means includes a first plate disposed in the edge of said cover and adjacent said flange on said seat member, and a second plate disposed in the edge of said cover and oppositely disposed from said first plate, each of said plates being removably engageable with said seat member.

7. The cover means according to claim 6 wherein said positioning means further includes a pair of side plates oppositely disposed in the edge of said cover and between said first and second plates, said side plates being re movably engageable with said seat member.

8. The cover means according to claim 7 wherein said first and second plates and said side plates are provided with hooks extending toward said seat member and removably engageable therewith.

9. The cover means according to claim 1 wherein said wire means includes a pair of wire members disposed in the edge of said cover and extending therearound in opposite directions, one end of each of said wire members removably engaging said positioning means and the other end of each of said wire members removably engaging said flange on said seat member.

10. A seat member and removable cover assembly comprising: a seat member having a front surface and a back surface and a peripheral edge, a cover extending over said front surface and overlying a peripheral portion of said back surface of said seat member, positioning means disposed in the edge of said cover, receiving means in said seat member for removably receiving said positioning means and temporarily retaining said cover on said seat member, a flange secured to said seat member and extending outwardly from said back surface, and Wire means disposed in the edge of said cover and extending therearound, said wire means removably engaging said positioning means and removably engaging said flange on said seat member and maintaining the edge of said cover at a smaller peripheral length than the length of the periphery of said seat member and securing said cover on said seat member and relieving said temporary retention by said positioning means.

11. The assembly according to claim 10 wherein a tubular seam is formed in the edge of said cover overlying said back surface of said seat member, said seam containing said positioning means and said Wire means.

12. The assembly according to claim 10 wherein said receiving means in said seat member includes recesses formed in said back surface, and plate members secured to said seat member and partially covering said recesses for receiving and removably retaining said positioning means in said cover.

13. The assembly according to claim 10 wherein said positioning means includes a first plate in said edge of said cover and adjacent said flange on said seat member, and a second plate in said edge of said cover and oppositely disposed around the periphery of said cover from said first plate, each of said plates being removably engaged with said receiving means on said seat member.

14. The assembly according to claim 13 wherein said positioning means further includes a pair of side plates secured in said edge of said cover and oppositely disposed around the periphery of said edge of said cover and between said first and second plates, said side plates being removably engaged with said receiving means on said seat member.

15. The assembly according to claim 14 wherein said first plate and said second plate and said side plates are provided with hooks extending toward said seat member and removably engaged with said receiving means on said seat member.

16. The assembly according to claim 12 wherein said positioning means includes a first plate in said edge of said cover and adjacent said flange on said seat member, a second plate in said edge of said cover and oppositely disposed around the periphery of said edge of said cover, and a pair of side plates oppositely disposed around the periphery of said edge of said cover, each of said plates being removably engaged with said receiving means in said seat member.

17. The assembly according to claim 16 wherein said first and second plates and said side plates are provided with hooks extending toward said seat member, said hooks removably engaging said plate members partially covering said recesses in said seat member.

18. Cover means for a seat member having a front surface and a back surface and a peripheral edge and comprising: a cover extending over the front surface of said seat member and overlying a peripheral portion of the back surface of said seat member, cover positioning means disposed in the edge of said cover and removably receivable in said seat member for positioning said cover on said seat member, said positioning means including a first plate disposed in the edge of said cover and adjacent said flange on said seat member, a second plate disposed in the edge of said cover and oppositely disposed from said first plate, a pair of side plates oppositely disposed in the edge of said cover and between said first and second plates, said first and second plates and said side plates being provided with books extending toward said seat member and removably engageable therewith, a flange secured to the back surface of said seat member, and a pair of wire members disposed in the edge of said cover and extending therearound in opposite directions, one end of each of said wire members removably engaging a hook on said second plate and the other end of each of said wire members removably engaging said flange on said seat member, said wire members maintaining said edge of said cover at a smaller peripheral length than the peripheral length of said seat member for securing said cover thereon.

19. A seat member and removable cover assembly comprising: a seat member having a front surface and a back surface and a peripheral edge, a cover extending over said front surface and overlying a peripheral portion of said back surface of said seat member, receiving means in said seat member and including a plurality of recesses formed in said back surface and plate members secured to said seat member and partially covering said recesses, positioning means disposed in the edge of said cover and including a first plate in said edge of said cover and adjacent said flange on said seat member and a second plate in said edge of said cover and oppositely disposed around the periphery of said edge of said cover and a pair of side plates oppositely disposed around the periphery of said edge of said cover, said first and second plates and said side plates being provided with hooks extending toward said seat member, said hooks removably engaging said plate members partially covering said recesses in said seat member, a flange secured to said seat member and extending outwardly from said back surface, and a pair of wire members extending around said edge of said cover in opposite directions, one end of each of said wire members removably engaging a hook on said second plate and References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Foster Mar. 19, DArcy May 18, Kutschmar June 6, Fry Aug. 21, Young Dec. 7, Van Derveer Mar. 21, Cramer et al Feb. 27, Nordmark May 13, Caughey July 4, Grunwald Oct. 31, Larsen Mar. 30, Eames Mar. 20, 

1. COVER MEANS FOR A SEAT MEMBER HAVING A FRONT SURFACE AND A BACK SURFACE AND A PERIPHERAL EDGE AND COMPRISING: A COVER EXTENDING OVER THE FRONT SURFACE OF SAID SEAT MEMBER AND OVERLYING A PERIPHERAL PORTION OF THE BACK SURFACE OF SAID SEAT MEMBER, COVER POSITIONING MEANS DISPOSED IN THE EDGE OF SAID COVER AND REMOVABLY RECEIVABLE IN SAID SEAT MEMBER FOR POSITIONING AND TEMPORARILY RETAINING SAID COVER ON SAID SEAT MEMBER, A FLANGE SECURED TO THE BACK SURFACE OF SAID SEAT MEMBER, AND WIRE MEANS DISPOSED IN THE EDGE OF SAID COVER AND EXTENDING THEREAROUND, SAID WIRE MEANS BEING ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID POSITIONING MEANS IN THE EDGE OF SAID COVER AND 